Easy Star Spangled Skort

Published: May 30, 2014

Last 4th of July I made the cutest ruffle onesie dress for my little sweetie to wear for her first 4th of July celebration. She was all dressed up and looking mighty patriotic only to have a blow-out right before we walked out the door to begin our holiday festivities. Isn’t that how it always goes? Haha! Even though she wore her little patriotic dress for less than 20 minutes she looked beyond adorable! So, the goal this year…for her to make it in her holiday attire for more than a couple of hours before we have to change to outfit #2. Speaking of festive outfits, Amy from Peek-a-Boo Pattern Shop is sharing her Star Spangled Skort that is perfect for your little girlee’s holiday attire, and I am pretty sure I will be making one of these adorable skorts for my little sweetie…wait, better make that two just in case we have another diaper mishap this year! Enjoy!

And since little ones should be free to run, play, cartwheel and generally be un-ladylike we’ve got you covered…

And don’t worry this is a quick and easy project! While it may look time intensive the secret is all in the fabric 🙂 I used a holiday banner panel to get a fun pieced looked without all the work. But you don’t have to let anyone know your little secret…

And while we’re talking about secrets I’ll let you in on one more 🙂 The Ribbon Retreat now carries korker ribbons! Yup…that’s right! All curled up, bundled into darling color combinations and ready to go. I used one pack of red, white, and blue and it was the perfect amount of ribbon to make 2 BIG bows! I cut each strand into five 3″ chunks and then used this tutorial to assemble them.

Let’s make a skort!

1. Grab your SuppliesThe secret to this super easy skort is in the fabric. I used half of a Riley Blake Holiday Banner Panel. Yup you only need half so if you have 2 little girls to sew for you’ll be all set with just one panel 🙂 Or if you like extra full skirts you could use the entire panel. You can use any fabric you like but the panel gives it a fun pieced look. If you’re using another print you’ll need 1/3 yard. The shorts and waistband can be made from a knit or woven fabric. I chose to use a coordinating Riley Blake polka dot knit. A 1/2 yard cut will be plenty.

2. Download your patternThe pattern is available for sizes 2t-4t as that’s what works best with the fabric panel. If you are using knit for the shorts you may want to go down one size for the shorts for a bit slimmer fit. The pattern will print out on 3 pages. Tape it together along the dashed lines as shown in the diagram. Cut out 1 left and 1 right shorts piece. If you just want to make a skirt you can just leave the shorts portion out. On your pattern piece you’ll also find the dimensions for the skirt and waistband and a recommended elastic length. Use a 1/2″ seam allowance unless otherwise noted.

3. Let’s start with the shorts. With right sides together (RST) sew the left and right leg together along the front and back rise. Make sure you leave the inseam open.

4. With RST sew the front and back together along the inseam.

5. Fold the bottom edge of the shorts up 1/2″ and hem. If you are using knits you’ll want to hem with a zig-zag stitch or double needle so the seams will have some stretch. If you are using a woven you’ll want to finish the top edge by turning it under 1/4″ or finishing with a serger so it doesn’t fray.

6. With RST sew the short ends of the waistband together.

7. With RST sew the skirt piece together along the selvage edges. I ended up using a 3/4″ seam allowance for this step which resulted in the print lining up perfectly in back so pay attention to your dots and adjust your seam allowance accordingly 🙂 Press this seam open.

8. Fold the bottom edge up 1/4″ and then another 1/2″ towards the wrong side and press flat. Topstitch in place to hem. I used the edge with the blue dots as my hem.

9. Gather the top edge of the skirt to match the width of the waistband.

10. Slide the shorts inside the skirt and baste the top edges together. Make sure the center back seam (the side with the higher rise) of the shorts is aligned with your skirt seam.

11. With RST slide the waistband over the skort. Line up the waistband seam with the skirt seam and sew together.

12. Bring the waistband up and then back down inside the skort so it’s covering the seam allowance. Tuck the raw edge in 1/4″ and topstitch in place along the bottom edge leaving a 1″ gap in back for the elastic.

14. Topstitch the gap in the waistband shut. This is a good time to tuck in a tag or loop of ribbon to help your little one know which side is the back 🙂

15. Admire your new skort!!

Happy 4th of July!!

Cute right?!? I am in love with this little skort and it’s pieced look and knit shorts. This little patriotic piece of clothing looks so comfy and cute, I just wish it came in my size. Wink, wink! I can’t wait to make this little beauty for my little sweetie and since you can get two adorable skirts out of one panel, I can’t wait to make a matching skort for my adorable little niece! Thank you Amy for hanging out with us today and for once again sharing your incredible talent for design and sewing! To see more of Amy’s incredible patterns and projects, make sure to check out her blog at Peek-a-Boo Pattern Shop.

Get the fireworks ready and all the yummy parade candy, because the 4th of July is right around the corner. Are you ready with sparklers, picnic blankets and your red, white and blue attire? Check out these other patriotic projects ready for fireworks to fly…